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Wisdom teeth are your third molars.
Early removal of wisdom
teeth, around the age of 16 or 17, can help you to avoid future problems.
According
to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeons, approximately 50 million Americans will need to have
their wisdom teeth removed before the age of 25.
The average mouth has
thirty-two teeth, sixteen on top and sixteen on the bottom. Each tooth has
a special name and use:
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The four 1st molars come in around age six and are
called "six year molars". |
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The four 2nd molars come in around the
age 12 and are called the "12 year molars". |
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The four 3rd molars
come in around the age of 17 (age range of 15-25) when most individuals become adults thus they are
called "wiser or wisdom teeth". |
American Association of
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommend
evaluation of wisdom teeth by age 25
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If we have enough room in the
jaw the eruption of these teeth will be just a normal process of growing
up. However, for allot of people only have enough room for twenty-eight
teeth and there is not enough room for these teeth to erupt properly so they
become impacted.
Wisdom teeth are considered
"impacted" or unable to erupt when they have no place to go or grow.
They
may grow in sideway (which can destroy your second molar), only partially come through the gum
causing a bacteria trap resulting in recurrent infections or remain trapped
beneath the gum and bone forming fluid filled sac (cyst) or tumors that destroy the jaw or teeth
surrounding this area.
Wisdom teeth can be considered
not functional or useful if they are:
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badly decayed |
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have gum disease-current
data indicates that 25% of patients with third molars have
considerable periodontal disease
around this area**. |
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cause pain |
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move other teeth out of aliment |
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interfere
with your biting. |
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Benefits of early removal of wisdom
teeth, around the age of 16 or 17, can help you to avoid future problems. At a
younger age:
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tooth roots are not fully
developed |
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the surrounding bone is
softer |
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there is less chance of damaging nearby nerves or other
structures |
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there is less surgical risk |
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healing is generally
faster. |
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They
should be removed to:
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Reduce the chance of unexplained pain.
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Accommodate a prosthetic appliance.
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Avoid cavities in wisdom teeth and the teeth
around them.
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Avoid periodontal disease.
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Avoid biting interference .
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Avoid disruption of natural
alignment causing teeth to shift.
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Avoid bone shrinkage.
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Avoid cyst
formation (a sac filled with infected
fluid around the crown of the tooth, like
a water balloon).
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When they cannot erupt into an acceptable position.
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When the roots may not be fully developed to
decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.
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| A 20 year study revealed
that out of 865 patients with broken jaws, 65% fractured
their lower jaw in the area of their un-erupted wisdom
teeth *** |
| 40% of adults that
never had their wisdom teeth removed as a teen develop
infection, decay or gum disease by 45 |
| Avoid check biting |
| 25% of adults over age 40
with wisdom teeth need to have them extracted and the risk
of surgical complications in these individuals increases
by 30% from what it is in adolescents***. |
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We recommend our
patients see Dr. Black to have their wisdom teeth removed. He is well
qualified and highly experienced to determine the age, need and procedures needed to remove them.
This is usually an outpatient procedure done right in his office. The type
and length of surgery will depend upon how developed your wisdom teeth
are.
If they are removed, you
will be will be able to keep the rest of your mouth healthy and your other teeth
positioned properly.
If wisdom teeth have
erupted, the key to preserving them is maintaining good oral health
care.
Wisdom
Tooth Extractions Affect Eating Disorders
Data reveal that dental procedures,
specifically third molar surgery, can significantly alter
the course of eating disorders, causing exacerbation or
relapse. No patient indicated that dental therapy was the
primary cause of these multifactorial psychonutritional
disorders.
A history of
eating disorder should alert the practitioner to the risks
of performing third molar surgery without a medical or
psychotherapy consultation unless there is documentation of
remission. Delay of surgical intervention is recommended if
third molars are asymptomatic. If surgery is necessary, the
surgeon and other members of the psychotherapy team should
establish clear guidelines regarding behavior and postoperative
nutrition and should monitor the patient's nutritional
status.
© 2001 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeons
(Picture courtesy of HMI)
*** Source: Pennsylvania Institute of Oral Surgery, American
Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Feb. 2002
**George
H. Blakey et al., J Oral Maxillofac Surg 60:1227-1233, 2002
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February 06, 2008
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